I’ve seen a lot of different houses over the years, and I think the most important part of any home is the property that surrounds it.

The exterior of your house and the landscaping surrounding is a big factor in the first impression people form when driving by or pulling into your driveway, and most people would agree that location and curb appeal is paramount in the value of a home. After all, you can drop a pile of lumber and drywall anywhere!

Many of us seem to think that there are infinite possibilities for affordably updating the look and feel of your kitchen, bathroom or basement, but when it comes to landscaping and the exterior of your home it has to be complicated and expensive. Au contraire, mes amis!

Despite the fact that I spend most of my time on interior renovations, my favourite place to be is outside — especially in the summer. The outdoor spaces around your home should be an extension of the look and feel of the interior. We’ve all driven past houses with unkempt lawns, cracking driveways, missing shingles, peeling siding or loose eaves troughs. That’s what I call curb unappeal, and it’s hard to be house proud when you’re “that guy” on the street. I have a few simple tips to boost the exterior interest of your home — and enjoy the outdoors a little while you’re at it.

If you have a driveway, chances are it occupies a good chunk of real estate. Whether it’s asphalt, concrete, or paving stones, seal it. Water, ice and salt slowly attack the surface and leave it looking weathered, faded and cracked. Sealing the surface helps stop water and chemicals from penetrating and prolongs the life and look of your driveway. For concrete or stone, choose a clear sealer, and tired asphalt can be brought back to its original lustre with a top coat. Consider lining the driveway with a concrete curb or one made of contrasting stone. A soldier course of stone looks great and helps keep the edges intact — and can save your lawn from the occasional wandering tire.

If you drive through newer developments, there are a lot of lush green lawns with little else to provide visual interest. Boring! Bushes, shrubs, trees and flowers not only look good, but they can also help reduce your heating and cooling costs if positioned correctly. They can protect your home from weather and mop up excess moisture in the ground, which in turn takes some of the stress off your foundation walls. Before planting a tree, make sure you make the call to have local utility companies locate your gas, hydro and any other underground hazards. Be sure to call before you dig (it’s the law)!

Flower beds are easy to create by outlining the area with marking paint, then removing grass in that area with a shovel or spade. Small trenches around the beds will help retain water and define the area from the rest of your lawn. A trip to the garden centre to choose plants and pick up a few bags of topsoil and fertilizer is a quick weekend trip with the kids. Kids love dirt and sprinklers, so it’s a great family project.

It’s nice to have a lawn, but let’s face it, grass doesn’t do well if there’s too much traffic. For outdoor relaxing and entertaining, or to create an area to eat, you’re going to need a patio or deck.

Interlocking patios require a bit of sweat equity, but they’re well worth it if done properly. The key to having a patio that lasts is what’s underneath it. You’ll need at least 6 inches of three-quarter clear stone for drainage to prevent heaving, and a few inches of limestone screenings to support the stones and give you a level surface to work on.

Building a simple floating deck is another option that won’t break the bank and doesn’t require a lot of digging — but be prepared to do some annual maintenance if you’re going to go with footings on the surface. Rather than sitting the deck blocks directly on the soil, dig a small pit in the footing location and fill with ¾-inch gravel, followed by a few inches of tamped screenings. You may need to do some levelling in the spring when the ground thaws, but not much. Building a small floating deck also doesn’t require a permit in most municipalities as long as it’s not attached to the house and less than 24-inches off the ground. It’s a perfect affordable spot for the patio table and chairs.

It’s not all about the landscaping and lawn. If your foundation wall is looking weathered and rough, a fresh scratch coat of mortar or exterior paint will bring it back to life for less than a weekend away. If you have peeling or missing shingles, we’re not talking cosmetic any more — you’ll need a new roof to protect your investment. On the upside, shingles come in a lot of architectural styles and colours these days — the standard black shingle isn’t the only option. New eavestroughs and downspouts will protect your home while looking great.

If you have rough looking soffits, siding, trim or plywood details on your home, a fresh coat of paint might be in order — it’s not a bank-breaking project even if you hire someone, and you can completely change the look of your home by trying out a new colour.

Bring old decks and fences back to life by repairing any broken or missing pieces, washing with a deck wash, or applying a new coat of solid stain. Your options are almost endless!

Pick a few projects outside this summer, and leave the drywall and tiling for the colder months. Pulling into the driveway of a tired looking house isn’t going to motivate you to get inside and finish those projects you have on the go, nor will it invite a potential buyer to even get out of their car. With a limited budget and a little hard work, you can spice up your domicile and feel proud of your home, while upping its resale value and saleability.

Now, get outside!

Bryan Baeumler is the host of Disaster DIY (Thursdays at 8 p.m.) and House of Bryan on HGTV. His column appears every two week in New in Homes & Condos. You can contact him via his website www.baeumler.ca or follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @Bryan_Baeumler.

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